Victoria: Masses - De Beata Maria Virgine, Surge propera

Following the success of the Westminster Cathedral Lay Clerks and their glorious men-only recording of Victoria's Missa Gaudeamus, the choir returns to full ranks for a further issue in their survey of the masses of this undisputed master of the Renaissance. This new recording opens with Victoria's five-part setting of the Marian antiphon Salve regina, followed by two of the composer's masses - Missa De Beata Maria Virgine and Missa Surge propera, which is preceded by its Palestrina model. Released to mark the conclusion of a highly successful American tour, this album finds the Choir of Westminster Cathedral in superb voice and Hyperion's top-notch sound is perfectly colored by the Westminster resonance.